Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-02-11
WASHINGTON MATTERS.
coNGRE, SIGNAL, PERSONAL AND GEN.
ERAL NEWS
The Interstate Commerce Bill Law.
WAsHtNGTON, Feb :. is7.


The house committee on invalid pensions
has reported bill granting pension To
Walt Whitman and returned with adverse
recommendations the senate bills granting
pensions To the widows OF Gen. Logan and
Gen. Blair. These bills were placed on the
private calendar and the friends or the
bills will spare no efforts TO have them
passed The argument used 10y the mem
bers of the committee opposed TO the pas
sage OF the bill for Mrs. Logan, is that II
congress should pass the till and establish
this precedent IL would increase the PEN
sion roll $345, 900 annually. The democratic
members cannot see the Justice in grant
ing his widow pension when she Is not in
want. The republicans of the committee
dissent from these views, and urge that
the cherished companion or Gen. Frank I.
Blair, who saved Missouri 10 the Union,"
and the widow OF the brave and gallant
Logan be tenderly cared for as long as
they live
The recapitulation OF the debt statement
issued en- the LIST inst, shows that the in
terest bearing debt is Sl,l312d9, 532: debt
Oh which interest has ceased since matur-
ity, $I5l4,l debt bearing no interest,
f5sG. so lbs; total debt with interest ST.
134 ls3, 49, total debt less available cash
Feb l. 81 80 46S, 500: decrease of debt dur
ing the month S9,5l5,OOD Tho outstand
ing bonds at Al per cent. are So, 900, 900,
at per cent are $685. so6,tOO, at per cent.
are sG30O3,OoO.
Debate on the retaliation bill has been
postponed for few days owing 10 the
absence Of Chairman Belmont, who was
summoned to'New York 10y the death of
his brother. Chairman Belmont has in
his possession all the papers and data
upon which the committee were TO have
acted. and hence no progress can be made
until he returns
The discussion OF the bill amending the
rules and articles of war called up the
amendments recommended by the house
military committee, which excited much
criticism, the principal point of attack be-
ing the section providing that the pay
OF officers upon the retired list shall he
- per cent. of the full pay they were en-
titled 20 receive when retired, and no
more In lieu of this section, Mr.. Bragg
Of Wisconsin. on behalf of the commit
tee offered a proviso that hereafter no in
crease Of pay shall be allowed or paid to
any officer by reason OF service on the re
tired list. Mr. Bragg said that the retired
list was the pension list OF the regular
army aud he was opposed 20 allowing men
serving on that list for five years an in
crease of 10 per cent. IN their pay. MIR.
Weaver Of Iowa gave notice that II would
take "A quorum TO pass the bin as long as
it contained the brutal provision that de-
serters should be branded with the letter
"Dn In view of the fact that there was
no quorum present Mr.. Bragg withdrew
the bill.
Mr.. Evarts Of New York introduced a
bill in the senate the other dav for this
purchase of John Ericsson Destroyer and
ten enlarged steel vessels Of the same type
for defending the harbors of the United
States, appropriating $1,000 and e., 0O0,
coo for these purposes respectively.
While the astute senator from New York
Il fully alive 10 the danger threatening our
harbors, he is equally vlgllant where his own
Interests are concerned. When the bill 10
prohibit members of congress from acting
as attorneys for subsidized railroad COM
panies was under discussion, no one OPP
posed 1t more vigorously than did Evarts.
The bill to enable the people 10 elect
their own postmasters has been reported
adversely in the house and we must be
content with having postofiices dealt out
as political swag."
The President and Mrs Cleveland enter
tanned the diplomatic corps at a state din
ner "A few nights since. Covers were laid
for forty guests. The White House
was magnlticently decorated with plants
and flowers, and music was furnished by
the marine band All the foreign minis
tiers residing at the capital were present,
except the japanese minister, who was
absent on account of illness The Haytien
minister escorted Mrs. Cleveland 70 dinner
and she had the secretary OF state on her
left.
President Cleveland sent 10 the senate
the other day n long communication re
garding his distri ution OF the testimonials
of the preservation OF the survivors of the
Jeanette expedition
The bin appropriating $4,000 for special
distribution of seeds IN the drouth strick
en- district Of Texas his passed the senate,
and also the sundry civiI bill.
The house refused 10 pass over the presi
dents veto the bill granting pension 10
Carter w. 1iller who claims 20 be the de
pendent father Of "a soldier who died in
Andersonville prison The presidents
veto i based on the belief that Iiller is
/ neither deserving nor dependent
Mr.. McAdoo Of New Jersey introduced
bill in the house the other day TO provide
for the manufacture 10y Americans OF first
class modern guns for the navy and sea
coast defenses The bill which has been
referred to the committee on military af
fairs, appropriates the modest sum OF SO,
00O0OO
The bill 20 prohibit the appointment OF n
+ congressional committee 10 attend funer-
ais outside Of the District OF Columbia
at the public expense. and also TO prohibit
/ the draping OF public buildings in mourning
except on the order o. the president. receiv-
ed an airing the other day IN the house and
afforded an opportunity for little spe ech
making. The bill did not pass, however,
but was RELOCATED 10 that receptacle for
SO many matters, the table.
The house committee on territories has
favorably considered the bill for the or
ganzation OF the territory of Alaska.
The bill provides for the establishment OF
a civil government over all the country
! ceded 10y Russia TO the United States
under the name OF Alaska and designates
the town of Sitka the seat of govern
ment. IL also provides that the territory
4 shall be entitled TO "A delegt in the ma
tional house of representatives to be
elected by the qualified voters of the terri
{ tory. All of which causes Gov. Swineford,
/ to wear the blandest of smiles
The senate finance committee has agreed
20 report favor ably the bill refund!ng to
( the states the direct war tax. u is hoped
TO pass the bill this session. Judge Height
/ ly of Constantine. j. the agent for the state
OF Michigan for the collection of Michi.
gans rebate Michigan was assessed for
500, 163 81 and none OF IL has been paid.